Looking ahead to 2013

CX54WEK

CX54WEK

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Without wanting to wish this year away completely, we are starting to look ahead to plans for next year’s cruising options. Our remaining cruises for this year are already planned to the nth degree so we need something to do on these wet and windy days and nights.

One plan we are currently toying with is a two week summer trip onto the Deben. Now we know that this is going to be cramming a lot into two weeks especially as we have to get from Lincoln to the sea first, a full days cruising in its own right and we would be very much in the hands of the weather gods!!!

The current plan would be to sprint to Boston (of course abiding by the speed limits :) ) before heading for RNSYC, Lowestoft for an overnight pit stop and refuel. Lowestoft is the furthest south we have yet to venture so from here it would be very much unknown territory for us.

Unfortunately last time we were in the area we missed the chance to visit Southwold due to the weather so that is high on the list of places to go but we would probably visit Southwold on the way back up the coast.

So enough of me rambling. What we are really after is advice on places to stay and visit on the Deben. Places to refuel would be high on the list of priorities given our small fuel tank and thirsty engine. We like a mix of busy and quiet surroundings so are fairly easy to please and will have the dinghy with us so places to anchor would also be appreciated.

We are shallow drafted at 3ft and can reduce this further by lifting the drive to about 1.5ft. We don’t mind drying out but would prefer not too as we cannot guarantee that she will sit level and sods law states that low tide would be early morning and we would be rudely awoken to the boat rolling over!!

We would be looking to spend 3 or 4 days in the area depending on the weather before heading back for home, calling in at Southwold, Lowestoft and Wells next the Sea before heading back in at Boston and on to Lincoln.

Obviously the weather will play a big part in this trip so we would also be looking for recommendations for places to leave the boat for a week or so should the weather dictate that we cannot get home in the allotted time.

Thanks for any suggestions in advance.
 
botheras said:
Blimey, I'm still looking forward to 2012 season. Haven't got anywehere other than day sailing yet this year due to weather...
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We have already had a couple of weeks holiday onboard. One inland to Leeds at Easter and one last week to Wells next the Sea.

We go away again in a few weeks to Wells and then in August are heading inland again to York. We dont let a bit of UK weather put us off :D
 
Lady Celestial said:
I love the River Deben, it's a beautiful river with lovely countryside on both sides. There are places to pick up a mooring for the night but my favourite spot is by the Ramsholt Arms where you can get an excellent pub meal. George Collins is the harbour master.

http://www.visitmyharbour.com/harbours/east-coast/deben/expanded.asp
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Thanks for that. We have already been told to head there by a firend whio used to moor in the area. So Ramsholt looks like a definate overnight stop.

Anymore for anymore.

Oh diesel. Where is the best place to get some. We will need some pretty much as soon as we get to the area.
 
CX54WEK said:
Thanks for that. We have already been told to head there by a firend whio used to moor in the area. So Ramsholt looks like a definate overnight stop.

Anymore for anymore.

Oh diesel. Where is the best place to get some. We will need some pretty much as soon as we get to the area.
Click to expand...

If you fill up in Lowestoft, you won't be desperate for fuel at the Deben, it's only a 30 mile trip. Very straightforward trip, just watch for the pot buoys around Orford. The infamous Deben bar won't really cause you an issues (as long as there is enough water of course), it's easier in a powerful mobo than a sail boat and we didn't really find it any worse than Wells.

You'll be within spitting distance of the Orwell, Stour and Walton backwaters, if you had time to visit either. With 3 or 4 days, i'd be tempted to have a day or 2 on the Deben, then a day or 2 on the Orwell and Stour. Be a shame to miss them when you'll have travelled so far from home.
 
Master plan is I finish work in Sept this year, boat out for final refit Oct 2012 to May 2013. Other half finishes work in June 2013, then we move aboard. Local UK to start with to settle in, winter in a marina and then who knows? Will be north to the Western Isles to start with though (neither of us can stand the heat once it gets above about 25degs).
 
Deben

Hi,

The only marina on the Deben where you will get alongside and walk ashore is the Tidemill at Woodbridge. This has a cill at the entrance, so the best policy to get in there is to cross the Deben bar at about half flood and take the rest of the flood up to Woodbridge. This will see you at the Tidemill approaching HW giving plenty of water over the cill. Fuel available in the harbour a a previous post said.

The bar tends to move every winter in the storms and you can download an excellent chartlet and aerial view at www.eastcoastrivers.com. Note that the least depth over the bar is 1.2m at LAT. At half flood you will have enough depth but also a strong current sweeping you in, so take care to stick to the recommended track. The current chartlet is based on a survey in March 2012, but you will need next year's - it normally appears on the website in early May

The channel up the estuary is buoyed, but take care in picking out the buoys amongst the moorings at Waldringfield and the acute bends off Martlesham creek an Kyson Point - it wasn't named Troublesome reach by accident!

Much of the estuary is taken up with swinging moorings which tend to preclude anchoring due to the risk of fouling the ground chains. As you enter the river, you are immediately among the Felixstowe Ferry moorings, you can scrounge one of these but, if going ashore to either FF (the Ferry Boat Inn) or Bawdsey by tender beware of the strong tidal currents.

Between FF and Ramsholt there are some possible anchorages out of the channel where you could lie comfortably with your 3 foot draft. a good place for watching birdlife, but nowhere to go ashore. Ramsholt has been covered by a previous post, no anchorage, but you can get a mooring by arrangement wth the HM.

Shortly after leaving the Ramsholt moorings you come to the Rocks (there aren't actually any rocks worth noticing) probably the best anchorage on the river, but gets crowded on sunny summer weekends. Anchor off the beach on the east bank and get ashore for a BBQ, but take care because the "beach" turns to mud at LW - this is the East Coast.

A bend or two above the Rocks, you come to the Waldringfield moorings. If you can scrounge one here, you can go ashore to sample the Maybush, favourite watering hole of the late cartoonist Giles, who did most of his drawing in a caravan overlooking the river. Unless you're very confident of your chartwork, leave the passage behind the island to the locals and use the fairway through the moorings.

The anchoring possibilities between Waldringfield and Kyson are not many - possibly off Methersgate Quay - but again nowhere to go ashore - then between the Kyson moorings and the Woodbridge ones there is only Troublesome Reach - not a place to anchor. The entrance to the Tide Mill is towards the upriver end of the Woodbridge moorings.

You can, with a tide, continue up past the Tidemill as far as Wilford Bridge, but no further.

If you want to leave the estuary directly from the Tidemill, it is best to leave on the flood as soon as you have comfortable clearance over the cill, then punch the flood down to Felixstowe Ferry, by which time you should have plenty of water over the bar if you've stuck to the speed limits. The alternative is to leave at around HW and toddle down to a mooring at Waldringfield or Ramsholt to spend a night there before crossing the bar the next day.

Hope this helps,

Peter Wright
Wild Thyme
 
Hadenough said:
Master plan is I finish work in Sept this year, boat out for final refit Oct 2012 to May 2013. Other half finishes work in June 2013, then we move aboard. Local UK to start with to settle in, winter in a marina and then who knows? Will be north to the Western Isles to start with though (neither of us can stand the heat once it gets above about 25degs).
Click to expand...

That rules Iberia & the Med out. The high summer temperatures is one of the reasons we summer in the UK.

All strength to you in going for the new life. So many talk about it but fewer actually venture forth. Of those who have, we have seldom met 'a dissatisfied customer'.
 
Last edited:
PeterWright said:
Hi,

The only marina on the Deben where you will get alongside and walk ashore is the Tidemill at Woodbridge. This has a cill at the entrance, so the best policy to get in there is to cross the Deben bar at about half flood and take the rest of the flood up to Woodbridge. This will see you at the Tidemill approaching HW giving plenty of water over the cill. Fuel available in the harbour a a previous post said.

The bar tends to move every winter in the storms and you can download an excellent chartlet and aerial view at www.eastcoastrivers.com. Note that the least depth over the bar is 1.2m at LAT. At half flood you will have enough depth but also a strong current sweeping you in, so take care to stick to the recommended track. The current chartlet is based on a survey in March 2012, but you will need next year's - it normally appears on the website in early May

The channel up the estuary is buoyed, but take care in picking out the buoys amongst the moorings at Waldringfield and the acute bends off Martlesham creek an Kyson Point - it wasn't named Troublesome reach by accident!

Much of the estuary is taken up with swinging moorings which tend to preclude anchoring due to the risk of fouling the ground chains. As you enter the river, you are immediately among the Felixstowe Ferry moorings, you can scrounge one of these but, if going ashore to either FF (the Ferry Boat Inn) or Bawdsey by tender beware of the strong tidal currents.

Between FF and Ramsholt there are some possible anchorages out of the channel where you could lie comfortably with your 3 foot draft. a good place for watching birdlife, but nowhere to go ashore. Ramsholt has been covered by a previous post, no anchorage, but you can get a mooring by arrangement wth the HM.

Shortly after leaving the Ramsholt moorings you come to the Rocks (there aren't actually any rocks worth noticing) probably the best anchorage on the river, but gets crowded on sunny summer weekends. Anchor off the beach on the east bank and get ashore for a BBQ, but take care because the "beach" turns to mud at LW - this is the East Coast.

A bend or two above the Rocks, you come to the Waldringfield moorings. If you can scrounge one here, you can go ashore to sample the Maybush, favourite watering hole of the late cartoonist Giles, who did most of his drawing in a caravan overlooking the river. Unless you're very confident of your chartwork, leave the passage behind the island to the locals and use the fairway through the moorings.

The anchoring possibilities between Waldringfield and Kyson are not many - possibly off Methersgate Quay - but again nowhere to go ashore - then between the Kyson moorings and the Woodbridge ones there is only Troublesome Reach - not a place to anchor. The entrance to the Tide Mill is towards the upriver end of the Woodbridge moorings.

You can, with a tide, continue up past the Tidemill as far as Wilford Bridge, but no further.

If you want to leave the estuary directly from the Tidemill, it is best to leave on the flood as soon as you have comfortable clearance over the cill, then punch the flood down to Felixstowe Ferry, by which time you should have plenty of water over the bar if you've stuck to the speed limits. The alternative is to leave at around HW and toddle down to a mooring at Waldringfield or Ramsholt to spend a night there before crossing the bar the next day.

Hope this helps,

Peter Wright
Wild Thyme
Click to expand...

Very helpful thank you.
 
Well thank you all for you advice and help but it seems it was all in vain.

The OH has stamped his feet and insisted that we are heading to the Norfolk Broads again next summer.

Deep joy..........
 
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